Microsoft launches sustainable cloud region in Sweden
3m | Melanie Mingas
Microsoft has launched a new data center region in Sweden, powered by “100% carbon-free energy” and supports zero-waste operations.
With a presence in Gävle, Sandviken and Staffanstorp, Microsoft’s new data centers are now open for business with both Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 available. The data center region in Sweden will also deliver Azure Availability Zones, which gives customers additional application capabilities.
Microsoft President Brad Smith said: “When Swedish industries and companies want to embrace and innovate on Microsoft’s platform, our data center investments build on our portfolio of products and services while meeting important needs for data residency, security and compliance.”
Microsoft is striving for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification for the region, one of the highest environmental certifications from the US Green Building Council.
The technology giant said that it is “committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, achieving zero waste certification and operating on 100% carbon-free energy” in Sweden. In addition, the new region will be powered by 100% carbon-free energy with 24/7 energy matching with partner Vattenfall.
The specific type of energy was not detailed, but Microsoft said they have signed agreements for new renewable energy projects with bp, Enlight Renewable Energy, European Energy, NTR, Prime Capital and wpd.
In addition, Sweden is Microsoft’s first data center region whose backup generators will run on Preem Evolution Diesel Plus.
Preem is the world’s first Nordic Ecolabelled fuel, which Microsoft said contains “at least 50% renewable raw material”, while Preem’s own website says “25-50 percent renewable raw materials” and that “using Preem Evolution Diesel instead of fossil diesel reduces fossil carbon dioxide emissions by up to 46 percent”.
Finally, the new region will host Microsoft’s third European Circular Center, which reuses servers and hardware from the company’s data center.
The Swedish Circular Center will be able to support 12,000 servers per month. To support the company’s water-positive commitment until 2030, the data center’s servers will be cooled with only outdoor air 100% of the year, and rainwater will be captured at the data center, which is primarily used to provide humidification and to support on-site data center facilities.
Hélène Barnekow, General Manager of Microsoft Sweden said: “Our Swedish data centers are among the most sustainably designed and operated in the world. This is an important launch for Sweden and Europe, as I am convinced that new technological innovation is the most important enabler for the world to By moving to the cloud, we are creating new opportunities to accelerate the transformation to a more sustainable future – together. “
In Sweden, Microsoft already provides cloud services to Combitech, PostNord, Sandvik Coromant and Handelsbanken.
Handelsbanken is one of Sweden’s largest banks and has migrated from its own local solution to Microsoft’s data center.
Its CIO Mattias Forsberg said: “The fact that Handelsbanken has been named Sweden’s most innovative major bank three years in a row means that we have succeeded in what matters most to us – namely meeting our customers’ challenges and needs. We need to work closely with our partners to create even more customer value during our ongoing transformation journey. Microsoft’s cloud technology is a crucial part of Handelsbanken’s strategic focus in the areas of modernizing business-critical applications and agile development cycles. ”